Former Mayor Dave Cieslewicz's Blog

Facing This Together

March 2, 2011 10:27 AM

The Governor has delivered one of the most draconian, divisive budgets in recent state history. Our response is going to be just the opposite.

It will take weeks to fully sort it out, but what we know is that the Governor would slash state aid programs for basic services by millions, take away local control by imposing extreme levy and expenditure limits, dramatically disinvest in public education, gut our successful recycling program and more.

Our first task is to turn back or modify the worst of his budget through the legislative process. We'll work closely with the Madison schools, the county, the UW, MATC and others and with our municipal partners from around the state to make this budget better. Even though the legislative branch is controlled by the Governor's party, they are their own branch of government. They should not be rubber stamps and every one of these legislators has teachers and kids, firefighters and cops, snow plow drivers and librarians in their districts. We'll fight for a better budget through the legislative process where we have at least a chance of being heard.

Next we'll make development of Madison's 2012 city budget the most inclusive process ever. We'll work cooperatively with our unions and non-represented employees, our neighborhoods and our business community, in addressing this challenge the Madison way: with care for the least fortunate among us, with transparency in the process and with innovation and creativity.

We will get through this together and we will produce a budget that honors Madison's traditions of openness, inclusiveness and high quality services.